Unmet Health Care Needs of the Older Population in European Countries Based on Indicators Available in the Eurostat Database

Abstract

Access to healthcare may affect the health of the population, especially older people. The aim of this study is to analyze the reasons and factors influencing the unmet healthcare needs (UHCN) of the older population in the context of differences between age groups for 28 European countries. A self-reported UHCN indicator obtained from Eurostat database was used. The share of people with healthcare needs reporting distance/transportation issues was significantly different in the younger and older groups, as well as in age groups within the older population. The differences in other reasons were not so considerable. Problems with UHCN were observed more often in the older population with lower rather than with higher income and with more severe activity limitations rather than with none/moderate limitations (differences statistically significant, except for income for 75+). In most countries, the UHCN dependence on income/activity limitation is higher in the age group of 15-64 than for the older population. To plan/introduce/monitor appropriate, tailored actions for improving healthcare access for the older population, a detailed analysis of the UHCN prevalence, reasons, and determinants in this age group is needed; it is insufficient to analyze only the population as a whole. Additionally, the group of older people is not homogeneous in terms of UHCN.

Keywords: access to health care; age groups; older population; unmet health care needs; waiting lists.

Figure 1

The general concept of the study.

Figure 2

The framework of the research.

Figure 3

Ranges of unmet health care needs (UHCN) indicator values in the set of three educational levels: (A) for age groups 65+ and 15–64 and (B) for age groups 75+ and 65–74. Notes: range is a difference between maximum and minimum in the set of values for three educational levels, calculated for each country and age group; if a country is marked on the red line, it means that differences in UHNC between educational levels are equal for both age groups; if a country is above the red line, it means that differences between educational levels are higher for the age group on the vertical axis; a large country distance from the red line means that the differentiation according to education varies considerably between age groups.

Figure 4

Ranges of unmet health care needs (UHCN) indicator values in the set of five income groups: (A) for age groups 65+ and 15–64 and (B) for age groups 75+ and 65–74. Notes: range is a difference between maximum and minimum in the set of values for five quintile income groups, calculated for each country and age group separately; if a country is marked on the red line, it means that differences in UHNC between income groups are equal for both age groups; if a country is above the red line, it means that differences between income groups are higher for the age group on the vertical axis; a large country distance from the red line means that the differentiation according to income varies considerably between age groups.

Figure 5

Ranges of unmet health care needs (UHCN) indicator values in the set of three urbanization groups: (A) for age groups 65+ and 15–64 and (B) for age groups 75+ and 65–74. Notes: Range is a difference between maximum and minimum in the set of values for three urbanization groups, calculated for each country and age group separately; if a country is marked on the red line, it means that differences in UHNC between urbanization groups are equal for both age groups; if a country is above the red line, it means that differences between urbanization groups are higher for the age group on the vertical axis; a large country distance from the red line means that the differentiation according to urbanization varies considerably between age groups.

Figure 6

Ranges of unmet health care needs (UHCN) indicator values in the set of three activity limitation levels: (A) for age groups 65+ and 15–64 and (B) for age groups 75+ and 65–74. Notes: range is a difference between maximum and minimum in the set of values for three activity limitation level, calculated for each country and age group separately; if a country is marked on the red line, it means that differences in UHNC between activity limitation levels are equal for both age groups; if a country is above the red line, it means that differences between activity limitation levels are higher for the age group on the vertical axis; a large country distance from the red line means that the differentiation according to activity limitation varies considerably between age groups.